Pay-per-view television coverage is a step backward in terms of promoting Gaelic games and their accessibility to the public, a leading administrator has claimed.

Tyrone county secretary Dominic McCaughey has criticised the awarding of television rights to National League games to Setanta, claiming it restricts the ability of supporters to gain access to the matches.

"The main issue causing concern is that of restricted availability in many parts of the country, with Setanta being only accessible as a subscription channel or as a component of a larger pay-per-view package," McCaughey says in his report to next week's county convention.

"The division of the League rights to Setanta, where coverage of the floodlit games is the main component, is now considered to have been a less than satisfactory decision on the part of the Association.

"It is regrettable that many members and supporters who, for a wide range of reasons, may be unable to travel to a specific game, are not able to view it when televised, in the comfort of their own home because of this restricted availability.

"It is not right that such supporters must be forced to go to a local pub or club to watch that which should be available to everyone. Perhaps this is good 21st century marketing but is this what the Association should all be about?"

McCaughey also chastises BBC and UTV for their "inadequate" coverage of Gaelic games.

"One wonders whether the BBC is aware that the playing season for inter-club, inter-county and inter-provincial competition extends from the beginning of January until the end of November.

"BBC radio coverage of Gaelic games at all levels within the province can only be described as woefully inadequate.

"It is regrettable that the coverage provided by UTV also falls far below the level that is expected for Gaelic games, taking into account the participation level and the support level, in this county and also across the province. We would expect, at least, the same "air time" as the other two major sports in the province and in the country."

He urges an organised lobbying campaign to persuade the local television channels to review and improve their coverage.

Elsewhere, Galway's All-Ireland wins of 1998 and 2001 figure prominently in former All Star Seán Óg de Paor's Irish language autobiography, Lá an Phaoraigh, which will be launchedby former Galway manager John O'Mahony in An Chistin in Carraroe this evening.

The Connemara wing-back has written the book in conjunction with his sister Aoife de Paor, who is a journalist.